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The Arts

Gallery Exhibit Becomes a Memorial

By October 1, 2010November 16th, 2018No Comments

Late Sculptor Tom Aprile’s works in current Kirkwood exhibit

Due to an untimely passing, the current art exhibit at Kirkwood Community College has become a memorial showing.

The featured artist, sculptor and educator Thomas Aprile passed away Friday, Sept. 24 in Iowa City. He was just 57.
Aprile was professor of sculpture at the University of Iowa. Kirkwood Arts Specialist Arbe Bareis knew Aprile for many years.

“Tom was a great friend, mentor, and colleague. This is a great loss to the arts community and arts educators in Iowa. In Tom’s honor, we have extended his Iowa Hall Gallery exhibit until October 14,” Arbe said.

Thomas Aprile was a renowned sculpture artist, earning a B.F.A. degree from the Cleveland Institute of Art and M.F.A. from Syracuse University. Aprile was the head of sculpture at the University of Iowa and the recipient of several honors and awards. He earned two Pollock-Krasner Foundation Fellowships, a New York Foundation Fellowship, plus a Fulbright Scholarship to work and teach in Nigeria. Aprile was also honored with several internal citations and honors during his years at the University of Iowa.

Bareis noted the shocking loss adds deep meaning to Aprile’s exhibit in the Iowa Hall Gallery. “We invite everyone to stop by to pay homage to this special man and his art,” he said.

Regular hours for Kirkwood’s Iowa Hall Gallery are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The gallery is also open during arts performances in Ballantyne Auditorium.